2.0 Energy Conservation and Use Opportunities. (A) On-hill Operations

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1 2.0 Energy Conservation and Use Opportunities Ski areas consume large amounts of energy to make snow, operate lifts, pump snowmaking water, and operate vehicles. Ski area buildings such as lodges, rental shops, administrative buildings, restaurants, ticket sales, and retail shops consume significant amounts of energy for illumination, heating, cooling and ventilation. Consequently, energy use can be among a ski area s largest regular expenses. Ski areas that focus on energy conservation opportunities can significantly reduce monthly operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Developing an Energy Master Plan Developing an energy master plan involves integrating energy management into every aspect of your organization from goal setting to training, tracking and reporting. To be successful, an energy master plan should not only consider energy efficient equipment, but also consider the way the equipment is used and maintained as well as the energy use habits of employees and guests. It is also important to communicate your energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions, and to look for opportunities to increase the use of renewable energy sources; to document and communicate your energy savings; and, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a safer, healthier environment. Energy management techniques generally fall into four categories: 1. Eliminating waste by turning it off, turning it down or controlling it (for example, turning off lights when not in use, setting back thermostats at night) 2. Reducing the amount of energy used by equipment or maintenance processes (for example, purchase energy efficient equipment) 3. Recovering energy that would otherwise be lost (for example, heat recovery on refrigeration and other equipment) 4. Purchasing renewable forms of energy (for example, ethanol blended gasoline, wind generated electricity) Among a ski area s operating costs, energy utilities are one of the most controllable. In most cases, a successful energy master plan will require some basic changes in the way equipment is used, the way employees and guests use energy, and the way internal policies or procedures are set. The greatest benefits of such a plan will be realized only when you have senior management support and implement the following changes concurrently throughout your entire operation. (A) On-hill Operations Sub topic: Energy Use for Snowmaking, Lifts and Lighting Does this apply to my facility? Already in place at my facility Applicable Sustainable Slopes Principle(s): Considerations: Reduce energy use in snowmaking operations Use cleaner energy in snowmaking operations where possible Reduce energy use in lift operations Use cleaner energy in lift operations where possible Lighting for night skiing Useful Resources: Please refer to snow/lift equipment manufacturer s guidelines for guidance on operating efficiencies. Develop a snowmaking plan that includes most efficient methods for each set of weather conditions.! Use most efficient equipment first, adding less efficient equipment as the need to increase capacity rises. This applies to pumps, air compressors and lifts. Optimize the performance of air compressor systems used for snowmaking finding and eliminating leaks, choosing the best operating pressure, designing efficient piping systems, etc. Install new high efficiency snowmaking guns or retrofit/recondition older guns with new nozzles to further reduce snowmaking water and energy consumption. Maximize the use of most efficient snowmaking guns. Install a water cooling system to cool the water supplied to snowmaking systems. Reducing the temperature of the water increases the efficiency of the snowmaking process by reducing evaporative losses when the water is released to the atmosphere. Install a system control automation to increase efficiency of the snowmaking system. Will allow snowmaker to accurately modify the snowmaking systems by using computer controls to quickly respond to changing conditions on the slopes and avoid pumping excess water. Consider wet bulb and dry bulb temperature to determine when to make snow and maximize snowmaking efficiency. Purchase new, energy efficient motors. Rewinding commonly yields motors with poorer energy performance than prior to rewinding, and multiple rewinding typically reduces performance further. Reduce peak energy demand. For example, when some ski lifts are closed down, start snowmaking activities. Install timers on all electric heaters used to provide heat for lift related structures, so that heaters operate only when needed, i.e. 9 hours per day. Ease of implementation (easy, intermediate, expert ) Resulting savings (see legend) Ontario Snow Resorts Best Management Practices Energy Conservation and Use 1

2 Schedule lighting for night skiing to optimize daylight hours. Consider adding photocells and/or timers for additional savings. Replace high-pressure sodium lamps used for night skiing with metal halide fixtures. Fit lamps with hoods to minimize light pollution (i.e. indirect light to woods and sky). Purchase green power, such as wind-generated power, from energy providers. Success Story #1: Burke Mountain, Vermont Burke Mountain has installed several initiatives that have significantly reduced its energy use on the hills. In 2012 the resort replaced its old diesel rental plant with a more efficient electric compressor plant, which saves an estimated 224,000 kwh of electricity per year and also eliminates over 150,000 litres of diesel and associated greenhouse gas emissions. The resort implemented an updated snowmaking control system that more closely monitors snowmaking operations, thus reducing required energy use even further. With a Sustainable Slopes grant from the National Ski Areas Association, the resort installed 5 low energy HKD snow guns in 2012 and plans to eventually replace all of its snow guns (over 100) with models that will be 4 to 10 times more efficient. The five snow guns obtained with the grant reduced costs by approximately 86% and were expected to save the resort US $10,500 every season. (B) In Facilities Does this apply to my Facility? Already in place at my facility Sub topic: Applicable Sustainable Slopes Principle(s): Considerations/ Scope: Energy Use in Facilities Reduce overall energy use in ski area facilities Use cleaner or renewable energy in ski area facilities where possible Meet or exceed energy standards in new or retrofit projects Develop outreach that enhances the relationship between the ski area and stakeholders and ultimately benefits the environment Hotel/lodging Kitchen Activities Laundry Activities Building Operations Resources: Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program: Click here EnergyStar program: Click here Saving Energy Dollars in Hotels, Motels and Restaurants: Click here Conduct energy use audits throughout facility. Keep careful records of energy use, and review monthly utility charges with! departments to identify energy saving opportunities. Remind employees and visitors to conserve energy. Make energy use figures known to employees. Develop outreach events to communicate waste initiatives to members.! Shut down office equipment, such as photocopiers and computer monitors, when not in use. Place tent cards and decals in guest rooms to offer specific energy efficiency suggestions for guests. For example: turning off lights, changing temperature when they are leaving the room. These are often effective when written as a descriptive norm, for example, 75% of guests who stay in this room turn off the lights. Train staff to always keep curtains in guest rooms closed during the summer. Fill hotel rooms on the north side of a building first (and south side last) decreases air conditioning loads. Similarly, filing on the south side first in the winter reduces heating loads. Ease of implementation (easy, intermediate, expert ) Resulting savings (see legend)! Reduce energy needed for illumination. Convert incandescent lighting to compact fluorescent. Convert incandescent exit lights to LED. Upgrade fluorescent tubes to T8 or newer, and ballasts from magnetic to electronic. Use motion sensors to control lighting and HVAC in areas commonly unoccupied can minimize operating waste. Install sunlight sensors that will adjust to the amount of daylight throughout the seasons. Install programmable thermostats and use night setback for heat control in any and all areas not used at night. Time-clocks to limit HVAC operation eliminates waste. Ontario Snow Resorts Best Management Practices Energy Conservation and Use 2

3 Turn off heat and air conditioning in unused areas at all times, i.e. in hotel rooms that are unoccupied. Replace your incandescent or mercury vapour lighting for your parking area with high-pressure sodium or metal halide lighting (add photocells and/or timers for additional savings). Pool covers are very effective for reducing heat losses from swimming pools. Cover pools when not in use to limit evaporation and reduce heat loss. Maintain caulking and weather stripping. Keep duct work well sealed. Dirty condensers increase energy use by as much as 50%. Clean your refrigerator and freezer condenser coils every 3 months. Clean air conditioning unit condensers at least once a year. Check and clean air conditioner filters once each month during periods of heavy use. Cover the outside of air conditioning units during the winter. Clean out dust out of registers and heat exchangers in baseboard heaters by blowing them out at least once per year; after each unit is blown out, make sure the detachable front panel is reattached properly to ensure efficient air flow. Replace an old oil or gas boiler or furnace with a high-efficiency oil or gas boiler or furnace or ground source energy. Minimize energy used to heat water by using low-flow showerheads, efficient laundry equipment, and linen and towel reuse programs. Refrigerators and freezers operate most efficiently when the refrigerator is set at 3.2 C (37 F) and the freezer is set between 18 C and 15 C (0 and 5 F) Use the lowest washing temperature that cleans satisfactorily. Wash only full laundry loads. Purchasing Purchase energy efficient water heaters or insulate older water heaters well. Insulate hot water pipe runs. Locate water heaters as close as possible to the primary sites of hot water use. Purchase and use energy saving equipment/appliances for kitchens and lodges (i.e. Energy Star dishwashers and clothes washers) Purchase new, energy efficient motors. Rewinding commonly yields motors with poorer energy performance than prior to rewinding, and multiple rewinding typically reduces performance further. Purchase green power, such as wind-generated power, from energy providers. S S Success Story #2: Calabogie Peaks, Ontario In 2011, Calabogie Peaks purchased two large, highly efficient wood furnaces that make use of waste wood from the resort s clearing activities to heat 18 buildings. The furnaces heat roughly 85% of the resort s space heating, and 50% of the domestic water use including the hot tub, pool and laundry. Glycol transfers the heat through the 2,130 metres of pipeline (itself mostly constructed from reused steel), and depending on the glycol temperature, it is either pumped faster or slower to obtain optimum efficiency. When the glycol is hot for example, less energy is required to pump the fluid. The resort estimates this new wood furnace system will payback in four years, and it eliminates the need for 75,000 litres and 850,000 kwh of electricity every year. Ontario Snow Resorts Best Management Practices Energy Conservation and Use 3

4 Success Story #3: Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Massachusetts In 2007 Jiminy Peak became the first North American ski resort with an industrial size (1.5MW) wind turbine to help power its electricity needs. The wind turbine, named Zephyr, supplies a third of Jiminy Peak s electricity needs across all facilities and operations per year, and this percentage climbs to almost 50% during winter. During summer when the wind turbine generates more electricity than Jiminy Peak requires, this goes to the local community. The wind turbine cost US $4 million to construct, and a grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and an ongoing program selling renewable energy credits help offset that cost. Currently the wind turbine saves the resort US $450,000 per year in energy use, and payback was calculated at seven to eight years. Because the energy is renewable, the resort eliminated over 427,000 litres of annual diesel fuel and its associated 3,220 tonnes of carbon dioxide. (C) Vehicle Fleets Sub topic: Energy Use for Vehicle Fleets Does this apply to my Facility? Already in place at my facility Applicable Sustainable Slopes Principle(s): Considerations / Scope: Reduce fuel use in vehicles used for ski area operations Use cleaner fuel where possible Snowcats Snowmobiles Fleet vehicles Shuttles Resources: FleetSmart: Click here The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association: Click here Clean Snowmobile: Click here Hydraulic Line Inspection template (chapter 7): Click here Train staff to eliminate unnecessary idling of vehicles, minimizing trips and reducing speed.! Implement an anti-idling campaign in the resort parking lot (e.g. by posting signs). This will not only reduce the amount of exhaust emitted but also increase fuel efficiency. Use ethanol-blend gasoline or bio-diesel fuel wherever possible in fleet vehicles including shuttles, trucks, snowmobiles, and other pieces of equipment. Conduct regular maintenance on fleet vehicles, including monthly tire pressure checks. Use energy efficient vehicles. Provide shuttles or transportation for guests and employees. Replace two stroke engine snowmobiles with four stroke engine snowmobiles. Use alternative lubricants (i.e. synthetic low particulate or synthetic biodegradable) in snowmobiles to reduce toxic emissions. Conduct hydraulic line preventive maintenance on snowcats. Use biodegradable hydraulic oil in snowcats to address environmental concerns associated with on-hill hydraulic line breaks if they do occur. Practice daily trip planning to reduce the number of deliveries or pickups that are made each day. Complete pre-trip or delivery checklist to avoid doubling back. Consolidate deliveries and pickups. Ease of implementation (easy, intermediate, expert ) Resulting savings (see legend)! Ontario Snow Resorts Best Management Practices Energy Conservation and Use 4

5 Success Story #4 Mount Hood Meadows Ski Resort, Oregon Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort, company trucks display battery-powered message boards. Before 2012, the trucks had to keep idling as the truck batteries themselves were not sufficient to keep a charge for the signs. This was contrary to the resort s Know Idling policy. With a Sustainable Slopes grant, Mt. Hood added a new battery charger, cable and a new battery to every message truck, as well as a power outlet at their facilities so the trucks can charge overnight. Now the trucks no longer need to idle, which has reduced diesel costs and associated pollution, and cut greenhouse gases by Success Story #5 Steven s Pass Ski Area, Washington Stevens Pass is the first ski resort in the United States to have public electric vehicle charging stations. In 2011, helped with a grant from the American government, the resort installed 2 stations that allow for four cars to be per charged at any time. Both stations have the capacity to charge 120 or 220 volts. Stevens Pass has had a positive feedback from the installation, with an estimated 25 vehicles using the charging stations every month. Ontario Snow Resorts Best Management Practices Energy Conservation and Use 5

6 Calculate Your Lighting Paybacks A. Number of new units = units B. Purchase and installation costs per unit = $ Multiply A x B Total cost = $ C. Number of new units* = units D. Old wattage New wattage / 1000 = kw saved E. Usage in hours per day = hours per day F. Usage in days per week = days per week G. Usage in weeks per year = weeks per year H. Average local cost per kwh of electricity = $ (including demand charges) Multiply C through H Annual Savings = $ Simple payback = Total cost / Annual Savings = years *This assumes that the number of new lights is the same as the number of old lights. Ontario Snow Resorts Best Management Practices Energy Conservation and Use 6

7 Success Story Template: Please provide a summary of your progress on [name of topic] during the past year. Highlight your best achievements and also indicate any goals you hope to achieve during the next year. The information you provide will be included as part of an online database accessible to members of OSRA. Resort Name: Title of the Project: Category of Project (check one): Water Conservation Energy Conservation Waste Reduction Education/Outreach Snowmaking Facilities Landscaping and Summer Activities Wastewater and Stormwater Management Address: On-hill Operations Facilities Vehicle Fleets Offices/Lodge Areas Cafeteria/Kitchen Maintenance Contact Name: Keep Winter Cool Day Other Phone number: Website: Summary/Description of Achievement: Future Goals/Targets: Start Date: End Date: Time to Implement: years Estimated Cost to Implement Project: $ Total Savings (quantity): Total Savings (dollars): Ontario Snow Resorts Best Management Practices Energy Conservation and Use 7